British Arab Network Chairman criticises proposed new anti terrorism law in Egypt in Mustaqilla TV interview

Dr. Wafik Moustafa, Chairman of the British Arab Network has criticised the new proposed terrorism law in Egypt in an interview on Mustaqilla TV.

Dr, Moustafa said:

“Muzzling the media and free speech is the wrong way to fight terrorism in Egypt. The proposed new anto terrorism law would usher in a 1960s style censorship through the back door. The new laws must not use terrorism as a pretext for crushing political opposition and stifling freedom of speech. It is right that there are concerns about human rights abuses in Egypt. I call upon the Egyptian Government not to implement such draconian laws.”

Proposal no longer carries the threat of jail for reporting that contradicts official statements, but instead fines journalists up to £41,000

www.theguardian.com 16th July 2015

Egypt has agreed to revise a controversial article of its touted anti-terrorism law threatening journalists with jail for reporting anything but the official line on jihadist attacks, state media has reported.

The planned law, approved on 1 July, sparked a backlash from Egyptian media after it included an article threatening at least two years in prison for publishing “false information on terrorist attacks that contradict official statements”.

On Wednesday, Egypt’s cabinet agreed to remove the threat of jail under article 33, but replaced it with a heavy fine, the Mena news agency reported.

“The cabinet has agreed … to remove the prison sentence under article 33 and replace it by strengthening the fine, which can range from 200,000 to 500,000 Egyptian pounds [£16,000 to £41,000],” Mena said, quoting government spokesman Hossam al-Qawish.

But an official from the Egyptian Journalists Syndicate, Khaled al-Balchi, said the revision just created “another type of imprisonment” as the fine would still be far beyond the means of most journalists.

He also denounced the “totalitarian logic of the law, which aims to silence all opposition voices within the country”.

The justice minister, Ahmed al-Zind, has said the article was first adopted because of the media coverage of a wave of bloody jihadist attacks against the army in the Sinai Peninsula on 1 July.

The military said 21 soldiers were killed in the violence, but media agencies reported higher tolls, citing unnamed security sources.

Rights group Amnesty International said the draft law “represents a flagrant attack on the rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association” and “weakens safeguards to ensure fair trials and widens the use of the death penalty”.

“If approved, it is set to become yet another tool for the authorities to crush all forms of dissent,” said Said Boumedouha, the deputy director of the group’sMiddle East and North Africa programme.